2015 Hobart 4th of July Parade Celebrates Community Heroes

Thousands of people from around the region crowded downtown Hobart for the 2015 Fourth of July Parade, one of the largest events in the community each year. Independence Day is a special day for Hobart, when families and friends celebrate the country and the city in which they live.

To celebrate, each year the city holds a giant parade - this year they expected around 5,000 attendees - followed by day-long parties held throughout the city. At night, thousands will pack Festival Park for a Fireworks display to go along with live music, food, fireworks and more.

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The Parade Committee selected “Celebrating Community Heroes” as the theme for the 2015 Parade, with police, fire, and military veterans leading the parade with about 80 organizations following suit.

"We work really well together as a team to reach our common goal of putting on a great Parade for our Community to enjoy," said Nikki Lopez, Events Director of the City of Hobart.

This year’s parade featured Grand Marshall Bill Woods, a 26 year veteran of the Hobart Police Department, including spending six years as its chief.

“We have so many heroes in Hobart, but Bill’s name kept coming up to be the Grand Marshall,” explained Lisa Winstead, Executive Director of the Hobart Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of people who have worked with him, so he was driven in a Thunderbird convertible, followed by retired police officers and many other community heroes.”

“Bill Woods has been part of building this community for years and years,” said Lopez. “We thought this was the perfect way to honor him and all of the work he has done to make Hobart what it is today.”

The event did what it set out to do: create a family friendly atmosphere that brought thousands to the downtown and celebrate our nation’s independence.

“It’s the best parade around,” said Clinton Mosier, a 15-year resident of Hobart, who enjoyed the parade along with his family. “We always bring the family down, the kids get some candy and see the parade - it is a great community thing.”

The Hobart Chamber of Commerce led the planning and execution of this year’s parade with the help of the Hobart Lions Club, which sponsored the Chamber’s float this year.

Parade sponsors include: The Hobart Chamber of Commerce, City of Hobart, Rusthead Eco Friendly Printing, Ginter Reality, Eckles & Company P.C, St. Mary Medical Center, Sunbelt Rentals, REGIONAL federal credit union, and Teleperformance.